Ordinary, yet extraordinary

Published: Saturday, December 8, 2012 at 5:45 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, December 8, 2012 at 5:45 p.m.

Anyone who knows Jim Kirk will tell you the man has bigger-than-life personality. They will also tell you he is a regular guy who has spent his life helping his fellow man and making his community better.

For nearly 60 years, Kirk has played a memorable and meaningful role in the Ocala community. Known affectionately as “Country” Jim, Kirk was honored Saturday by the Kiwanis Club of Ocala, to which he belonged for 58 years, at its annual Pancake Breakfast.

Kirk won’t like me saying this, but at 86 the man is a living legend. And while at first blush a tribute at a pancake breakfast hardly seems adequate, the chairman of this year’s event, Bobby James, pointed out it was the perfect setting for a man who touched so many lives over the years.

“We had a chance to pay tribute, not necessarily in a formal setting, but in a setting he loved best — where he could just talk to regular people,” James said. “You see, he’s just an ordinary person. A personality as big as the community, a heart that is almost untouchable as far as giving to the community, and never asking anything in return.”

OK, James nailed it. Kirk was the first person to graduate from Florida State with a degree emphasizing broadcasting. He came to Ocala in 1953 to run a little AM radio station, WMOP — Florida’s first country station. He would gain local acclaim by bringing top-name country/western singers to perform in Ocala, not the least of which was a little-known skinny rock-a-billy performer named Elvis Presley in 1955.

He would eventually go on to buy WMOP in 1963 and own it for 30 years, and along the way become one of Ocala’s most high-profile and effective civic leaders, including serving three terms as mayor.

Trying to list all of the things Kirk has done to make Ocala a better place is impossible in this space. He is maybe best known for convincing Arthur Appleton to build a museum bearing the industrialist millionaire’s name in our community to showcase his world-class art collection. The Appleton today is one of the country’s most respected small museums. Kirk and his wife, Biddie, now are major fund raisers and boosters for FSU but still remain avid supporters of various community efforts here in Ocala.

The people lined up at the pancake breakfast Saturday to shake Kirk’s hand and have their picture taken with him. Just like people do with legends. Good for the Kiwanians for taking the opportunity to honor one of their own who, whether we know it or not, also is one of our own in the truest sense.

Said James, who first suggested the Kirk tribute: “When we have an opportunity to salute a person who has done so much, we should. We’re losing so many of our heroes, so why not take a moment and say thank you.”

He’s right.

“Country” Jim, we live in a better place and are better people because of all you’ve done. Thank you.

<p>Anyone who knows Jim Kirk will tell you the man has bigger-than-life personality. They will also tell you he is a regular guy who has spent his life helping his fellow man and making his community better.</p><p>For nearly 60 years, Kirk has played a memorable and meaningful role in the Ocala community. Known affectionately as “Country” Jim, Kirk was honored Saturday by the Kiwanis Club of Ocala, to which he belonged for 58 years, at its annual Pancake Breakfast.</p><p>Kirk won't like me saying this, but at 86 the man is a living legend. And while at first blush a tribute at a pancake breakfast hardly seems adequate, the chairman of this year's event, Bobby James, pointed out it was the perfect setting for a man who touched so many lives over the years.</p><p>“We had a chance to pay tribute, not necessarily in a formal setting, but in a setting he loved best — where he could just talk to regular people,” James said. “You see, he's just an ordinary person. A personality as big as the community, a heart that is almost untouchable as far as giving to the community, and never asking anything in return.”</p><p>OK, James nailed it. Kirk was the first person to graduate from Florida State with a degree emphasizing broadcasting. He came to Ocala in 1953 to run a little AM radio station, WMOP — Florida's first country station. He would gain local acclaim by bringing top-name country/western singers to perform in Ocala, not the least of which was a little-known skinny rock-a-billy performer named Elvis Presley in 1955.</p><p>He would eventually go on to buy WMOP in 1963 and own it for 30 years, and along the way become one of Ocala's most high-profile and effective civic leaders, including serving three terms as mayor.</p><p>Trying to list all of the things Kirk has done to make Ocala a better place is impossible in this space. He is maybe best known for convincing Arthur Appleton to build a museum bearing the industrialist millionaire's name in our community to showcase his world-class art collection. The Appleton today is one of the country's most respected small museums. Kirk and his wife, Biddie, now are major fund raisers and boosters for FSU but still remain avid supporters of various community efforts here in Ocala.</p><p>The people lined up at the pancake breakfast Saturday to shake Kirk's hand and have their picture taken with him. Just like people do with legends. Good for the Kiwanians for taking the opportunity to honor one of their own who, whether we know it or not, also is one of our own in the truest sense.</p><p>Said James, who first suggested the Kirk tribute: “When we have an opportunity to salute a person who has done so much, we should. We're losing so many of our heroes, so why not take a moment and say thank you.”</p><p>He's right.</p><p>“Country” Jim, we live in a better place and are better people because of all you've done. Thank you.</p>